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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Release: August 26, 2025
Author: Dandy Smith
Publisher: Kensington
Rating: 3.75 ★
Sixteen years ago, Caitlin’s older sister Olivia vanished without a trace from their shared bedroom while their parents were out for the evening. What was supposed to be an exciting milestone—staying home alone for the first time—turned into a night that would haunt Caitlin and her family forever. No one saw it coming; they lived in a quiet, trusting town where no one even locked their doors.
Now, after all those years of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions, a woman shows up claiming to be Olivia. The reunion should be joyful, but instead it stirs up buried doubts and painful memories. Caitlin isn’t sure if this is really her sister—or if her own memories of that night can be trusted.
As secrets unravel on both sides, the entire family is forced to confront the truth about what really happened. But trusting the wrong person could be dangerous, and the cost of choosing the wrong sister might be more than any of them can bear.
Dandy Smith delivers a gripping and twist-filled psychological thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. The Wrong Daughter opens with a chilling premise: after vanishing from her bedroom as a teenager, Olivia suddenly returns sixteen years later—only her sister Caitlin isn’t so sure it’s really her.
From the start, the story pulls you into a dark, emotional whirlwind. Told through multiple points of view, the book does a great job of weaving suspense and emotional depth, especially around themes like trauma, identity, and the complicated bonds between sisters. There’s an unsettling atmosphere throughout, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, the plot takes another sharp turn. Some twists I saw coming, but others truly shocked me in the best way.
While parts of the book felt a little slow or confusing at first—especially when trying to connect the dual storylines—it all pays off once the threads start coming together. The ending is bold, unexpected, and raises thought-provoking questions about memory, trust, and survival.
Though not every character or subplot was equally strong for me, the overall experience was intense and addictive. If you enjoy dark thrillers that mess with your head and keep you guessing until the very last page, this one is worth your time.
Favorite quote:
“but I felt the razor blades that laced the space between us; one wrong move would illicit a thousand bloody cuts.”
Book had potential, but I didn’t care for the direction it was heading or the character development. It just didn’t hold me enough to finish it. I wound up looking up a spoiler review and wasn’t the least bit surprised by what it said.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun-to-read thriller. The plot twists were nothing much to write about, but it still kept me engaged till the end.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
SYNOPSIS:
-Sixteen years ago, Caitlin’s sister Olivia was kidnapped while they were home alone. Caitlin was ten, Olivia was thirteen. Olivia never came back.
-Now Caitlin is an adult, engaged, and still haunted by that night. Then one day, out of nowhere, Olivia returns with no explanation of where she’s been or what happened.
-At the same time, we also follow Elinor, a young girl living with her brother in isolation, forced to endure their cruel uncle.
-The two stories weave together into a dark, twisty mystery about family, secrets, and betrayal.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS:
-The dual POVs kept me hooked. Elinor perspective was heartbreaking but compelling, while Caítlin’s storyline added depth and tension.
-Fact-paced. & addictive to read.
-The writing is sharp and immersive. I felt like I was right there in the house when Olivia disappeared, and later in the claustrophobic isolation of Elinor’s world.
-Some very dark topics, so definitely check out trigger warnings.
-It’s not just a mystery, it’s also about grief, guilt, and what happens when the past never really lets go.
-The ending landed perfectly for me. No dragging, no loose threads, just a satisfying conclusion that tied the two stories together in a smart way.
-Totally engrossing. This is the kind of book you can lose an entire afternoon to without realizing it.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A chilling, fast‑paced mystery with two equally gripping storylines that collide in all the right ways. Beautifully written and impossible to put down.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Kensington and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on August 26, 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious